Tequila and herring: Fusion and traditional food discoveries in Sweden’s second city

The most expensive city in Europe is Stockholm, Sweden. The glam capital was the obvious destination on my recent trip through Scandinavia but I instead chose to visit Sweden’s second largest city, Gothenburg. As I’ve found with many second cities, Gothenburg is naturally less congested, less expensive, and less touristic than Stockholm or other famous capitals. Over the course of a 72-hour stay, Gothenburg proved to be a very pleasant surprise for my eyes, wallet and palate.

Smart hotels and discount airlines make everyone an expert traveler

It’s a great time to be a traveler and smart travelers are being rewarded in many ways for their pursuit of quality and value. Like any smart consumer, smart travelers are not simply focused on the lowest cost options for hotels, flights, dining, etc. – they want quality of product and experience, and they’re not interested in paying for unnecessary frills or extras. They are value seekers, not price shoppers. And they are open to brands and destinations that are new, non-traditional or unfamiliar. Finally, smart travelers are not held hostage by dramatic and distorted reporting of terrorism, viruses, or economic doom. In fact, they know that the best time to travel is when the crowds are traveling less due to various fears or seasonal habits.